Veep appeals to chiefs to release land for investment

Sunyani Sept 3, GNA- Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Friday appealed to chiefs to release lands for investment. They should also help to sustain the relative peace in the country for accelerated development in the communities.

"We are trying to attract investors into the hinterland so that more jobs can be created for especially our youth but if there is no land or peace as a result of chieftaincy and land disputes we definitely cannot achieve this objective", he said.

The Vice President was speaking during a courtesy call on Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri 11, Omanhene of Sunyani Traditional Area and his elders at the palace as part of his weeklong tour of Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions.

Alhaji Mahama would launch the third National Sanitation Week in Sunyani on Saturday.

He was accompanied to the palace by some Ministers and their deputies.

They included Dr Kwaku Owusu-Afriyie, Minister of Health, Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, his deputy Mr Issah Ketekewu, Nana Kwadwo Seinti, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister and his deputy, Mr Yaw Adjei Duffour and Mr Kan Dapaah, Minister of Communications.

The Vice President appealed to chiefs to make land available and help solve many chieftaincy disputes in the area for development.

Alhaji Mahama said the government acknowledged the role of chiefs as partners in development "and we expect you to live up to expectation".

"We know we have run a good race and the good people of Ghana are witnesses to our performance", he added.

The Vice President stated: "Ghanaians are enlightened now and we do not need to engage in quarrels and petty political squabbles, since though we belong to different parties, we are still one people. We need peace and stability to be able to serve our country well".

Alhaji Mahama called on people to avoid those who would want to create confusion and insecurity in the country and rather concentrate their energies on assisting the government to make the country greater, stronger and prosperous.

Nana Bosoma acknowledged the achievements of the government in the provision of basic infrastructure for development programmes but called for more roads within the municipality.

He gave assurance that the traditional council would provide land for any investment to create jobs for the youth.

Mr Adjei-Darko explained that the Department of Urban Roads would tackle the request for more roads in the municipality. 3 Sept. 04